Usually, I try to make sure that my posts deal somewhat with the restaurant industry, or candidates, or hiring managers, or dogs (my two Rotties are growing like weeds – Doobie is about 80 lbs and Roscoe is 39 lbs today.) And I know that I haven’t posted much because I’m so gosh darn busy. So it grieves me that I have to make this post, which fits in none of those categories.
I say "have to" because there is no way that I can let go unnoticed (and without rebuke) such a horrible transgression as occurred yesterday. It looks like a couple of guys in the Internet recruiting space have conspired to stir up some trouble. John Sumser, with his article "What is a non-profit?" brings up a rather curious topic. He doesn’t really post on recruiting(dot)com, he posts on his own E-zine (I guess that is what it is, it certainly isn’t a blog) and then points to his articles by submitting them on RDC. One would think that as the manager, editor, chief bottle washer at RDC he would blog there, but I digress. John’s article was a bit odd, because of the topic, the timing, and the disconnectedness of it with regard to anything having to do with recruiting.
Then yesterday, David Manaster (CEO of ERE Media) weighs in with his post "Why isn’t DirectEmployer’s Association a federal nonprofit?" I don’t know why he chose to pick up the ball that John fumbled (since John’s post never connected to anyone or anything) and run with it, but run he did. But it was more like running off at the mouth than actually reporting anything substantive or factual. I had seen similar ‘reporting’ done a few weeks back, by John Sumser… which I began to think was not by coincidence. And this pair of articles, the subject matter, the timing, and the lack of fact checking was reminiscent of some articles that were penned by John Sumser regarding Direct Employers Association.
Dave and John seem to be writing about the same company, coordinated?
Dave using the same blindsiding tactics as Sumser?
Is there a reason for both of them not checking facts thoroughly, as a true journalist would?
I think the answers to my questions are yes, Yes, and YES! I believe that both of them have ulterior motives (and at this point they don’t seem to wholesome.) What else could explain typing public accusations and recriminations, posting them on one of the most well traveled sites in the recruiting industry, without even doing the most rudimentary job of fact checking? Oh, Dave says he checked with the PR firm, they told him this and that… but in his original post he admits to having a professional, friendly relationship (he originally called the principals at Direct Employers ‘friends’ but when his behavior pointed to other than friendly relations, he retracted ‘friends’ as an accurate depiction of the relationship) yet he didn’t bother to ask Bill Warren or Chad Sowash his questions. It just doesn’t make sense that if you want the answers that you wouldn’t contact the best source, directly. Especially if you happen to know them. So Dave writes an article which basically impugns the character and integrity of the principals of Direct Employers Association and implies that their corporate status and lack of 501 (c) status is sinister. It seems that neither Dave nor John can wrap their heads around DirectEmployer’s work on JobCentral.com
What is sinister is Dave’s treatment of the issue (more accurately non-issue – see the comments by DEA’s chief counsel.) Dave complains about transparency, or lack thereof with the DEA and there tax status because and implies that there must be something unsorted about they way the organization operates. There are actually several things that are apparent based upon Dave’s article and the handling of the situation: 1) he isn’t a very good journalist, 2) he doesn’t practice transparency himself, 3) he doesn’t know jack-crap about the federal tax code.
It seems fitting that I started out my post talking about my Rottweilers, wonder if Bill would like to borrow Doobie to accompany him on a trip to the next ERE forum? 😉